#1615 - "To Bell" or "Not to Bell"

Greg,

I've never seen a 1615, or any other photo of a 1615 with a bell. The earlier 1656 and pre-war 1663 switchers had the same style bell as shown in your photo. I'm not sure how interchangeable the shells are among the 0-4-0 switchers.

Moreover, if any 1615 were to have received a factory bell, it would probably not have been the two part moving bell, but a solid bell casting such as found on the 2055, etc.

Only the 736 Berkshire still had the premium two part bell in the mid 50s.

In the modern era, some 0-4-0 switchers had a plastic, single piece ornamental bell.

Jim

A little more info:

https://www.tandem-associates....trains_1615_loco.htm

Greg,

The catalog drawing referred to in Joe's link does show the bell, but also some other differences.

Does the front of the loco have the extra grab irons mentioned? Also, does the tender have the railing?

It would be interesting to see more photos of your loco and tender to determine if this is a very unique variation that I've never seen or even seen photographed before.

Jim

Jim,

You said that Joe's link shows the bell...I don't see a bell in photo.

I have included more pictures of the #1615. It does have the handrail in the front, but the tender, which has a few cracks on the shell, does not have the handrail.  There are no holes for a handrail anywhere on the shell.

Another item that I think will also be rare is the set box for both items!  I am planning to sell that on Ebay for a good premium as it is in excellent shape.

Greg

Greg,

I was referring to the 1955 Lionel catalog drawing of the 1615 mentioned in the Tandem link. I can't post the drawing due to copyright. I sent a photo of it to your email.

That handrail across the pilot above the coupler is what they are referring to.  Sometimes its called a grab iron, sometimes handrail. And the engine shell is definitely a 1615 and not a repainted 1656. The 1615 has the boxlike detail on the left side above the running board (your 6th photo) - the 1656 does not.

IMO I would say that you definitely have that variation C.  I wouldn't worry about not having the handrail on the tender. I'm sure some of that variation came with the regular 1615 tender.

As far as value, yours would definitely demand quite a premium over the common 1615. Hard to put a number on it - but to the right collector....!!!

If you keep that box with it, I think you would get more for the box and engine together than the box and engine sold separately. Your decision.

Thank you for showing me something new about postwar! You never stop learning in this hobby!

Jim